Building record 10072 - Church of St Peter

St Peter’s Church was originally a Saxon foundation in the early 10th century; following the Conquest it was held by St Robert de Rothelent of Rhuddlen who granted its rights and dues to the Norman abbey of Saint-Evroul (Orne) who held it until the 12th century. From this point on it was held by St Werburgh’s until the Dissolution after which it passed to the Cathedral.

Its central position at the cross roads of the four main streets led to its recognition as the principal city church and its status was reflected in its complicated parish boundaries. Throughout the medieval period it maintained close ties with the market – held in front at the Cross, and the Pentice court – held in the upper floor of a row immediately south of the church.

Its physical form in the medieval period included the first floor entry (believed to be a relic of the monumental entrance to Roman headquarters building on which it sits – CHER 8314) over which the rectory house was located. Along its southern side stood a galleried row (CHER 10111) with the Pentice Courts (CHER 10272) on the upper floor level with the rectory house and shops on the ground floor. A second row is documented along its eastern side in Northgate Street (CHER 10112). In 1440 the south and east sides were partially rebuilt to accommodate a revised plans to these rows.

To the north, two new aisles were added between 1530 and 1539, requiring the demolition of at least one medieval townhouse, the remains of which underlies the present northern most aisle. (CHER10072/2) Further remedial work was undertaken on the steeple in 1579-80, 1669 and finally in 1780 when it was taken down. The south and east side were also reconstructed several times as a result of work to the rows in 1637-50 and in 1803 while internal alterations were also made in 1713. Several significant phases of restoration were carried out in 1848, 1886, 1909 and 1957.
Its present physical form comprises a roughly square building with the entrance at the south west corner, no detailed historic survey of the fabric has been carried out however.

There is no internal division between the central nave and chancel although it has been suggested that a screen originally extended across the first bay. The nave itself as a tie beam roof, with the aisle to the north dating to the 15th century and panelled with bosses of carved foliage. The south aisle had a chapel dedicated to St George. The chapel was attached to the Guild, Fraternity and Hospital of St George. At the east end there is supposed to have been four chapels although they are not described in detail. The original middle aisle is identified by the belfry tower at the western end with the baptistery beneath with three pointed arches rising to a stone vaulted roof. The span of the arches and the height of the church are disproportionate giving the appearance of a much larger structure than it is. Internal decoration includes a niche with ogee and cusped head on the north-east pier around which is a medieval fresco with scenes from the birth and crucifixion of Christ. St Peter's retains its galleries, first mentioned in 1637, but these have been renewed & altered since Stuart & Georgian times (3&7).

During the medieval period, a glove was hung on the side of the church to denote the fair was on, during this time any merchant was permitted to sell within the city walls, but once it was removed they were required to cease trading and leave. (17)

A watching brief in 2016 on utilites work to the south of the church exposed the sandstone foundations of the church which were recorded. (18)

<1> Alldridge N.J, 1981, Aspects of the topography of early medieval Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5931.

<2> Simpson, F., 1909, A History of the Church of St Peter in Chester (Book). SCH78.

<3> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Ormerod G 1882 1/323-327 (Book). SCH1389.

<4> Gastrell F, 1845-1850, Notitia Cestriensis, or historical notices of the diocese of Chester, Gastrell F 1845/118-120 (Article in Journal). SCH2290.

<5> Morris, Rupert H (Rev.), 1894, Chester in the Plantagenet & Tudor Reigns, /115 (Book). SCH946.

<6> Dyke A F E, St Peter's Church, Chester - Visitors' Guide Book (Book). SCH2985.

<7> Richards R, 1947, Old Cheshire Churches, Richards R 1972 /121-126 (Book). SCH2309.

<8> Pevsner N & Hubbard E, 1971, The Buildings of England: Cheshire, /152 (Book). SCH3078.

<9> Harris, B.E., 1979, Bartholomew City Guides - Chester, /49-50 (Book). SCH394.

<10> Department of the Environment, 1971-2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, /1/68 (Report). SCH1934.

<11> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ46NW51/1964 (Index). SCH2487.

<12> Hemingway, J., 1831, History of Chester, from its foundation to the present time. Volume 1, 2/84-90 (Book). SCH1436.

<13> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, /no.347 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

<14> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

<15> Lewis C.P & Thacker A.T. (eds), 2005, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume Vii, The City of Chester - The City of Chester, Culture, Buildings, Institutions (Book). SCH6522.

<16> Chester Archaeology, 1985-1990, Chester Rows Research Project Archive (Paper Archive). SCH6789.

<17> Simpson F, 1926, The 13th Century Crypt, Bridge Street, Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5698.

<18> L-P Archaeology, 2016, Archaeological Watching Brief Report for The Cross, Chester (Client Report). SCH8030.